If you’re new to fitness and exercise; learning how to do it is not unlike a child learning to walk for the first time. There are stages you must go through before you can confidently move to the next level. And while there will be struggles along the way, the reward of knowing how to exercise; to feel your body getting stronger, and to see the results in the mirror is no less satisfying than a child taking their first steps. It gives you wings and empowers you to do more and experience more. All with a confidence you would otherwise not have known.
So, if you’re among those that want to exercise but don’t know how; think you’re too old or too out of shape to start, or simply need a bit of a push – think back to when you were a child. Because sometimes, you need to look backwards before you’re able to move forward. And that is what today’s article is about – helping you to move forward.
Crawl – Walk – Run is a common expression that refers to the stages a person goes through when starting or learning something new. For instance, take a child who has yet to take their first steps and can barely pull themselves across the floor. It doesn’t matter to them that it takes several minutes to cross the room, they’re just happy to be able to explore their surroundings. Now of course, the reason it doesn’t matter to them how long it takes is because they don’t know any different. They don’t know what it’s like to walk, and can’t even comprehend what it is to run. So, they just keep on crawling, keep on getting stronger and more confident with each passing day. And then, after countless failed attempts, they learn to stand …to walk, and finally, they learn to run!
Now, the most obvious message here would be to make sure that you master the basic exercises before attempting the more advanced moves, and how determination and hard work will pay off in the end. But that’s not what today’s lesson is about. You see, as a parent, a grandparent, or simply as an adult, there is a much more valuable lesson to be learned by looking deeper into how a child moves through the stages from crawling to walking to running.
First of all, a child never fails to learn how to walk. They might fall down a lot, but they always get right back up and try over and over again until they get it. They don’t care if the room is empty or full of people, or whether or not someone is talking about them. All they care about is standing up and putting one foot in front of the other. They will then repeat that same process when learning how to run …life is good:)
But, somewhere between those first steps and adulthood, something changes. Maybe you realized that you weren’t the fastest runner, or the most athletic, or the smartest or thinnest kid in your class. And instead of living carefree and happy, you begin to live in doubt. Things that didn’t used to matter have now become the things that are holding you back. And your comfort zone, which once seemed to have no boundaries is getting smaller all the time. And that’s what makes today’s message so important.
You see today’s message is about looking at life the way you did before you could walk. It’s about approaching your fitness goals and even your life goals with that same carefree, unbridled enthusiasm that enabled you to take your first steps, to run your first race, and to even climb your first tree!
It’s about learning to look at your life through the eyes of a child. Before there was doubt. Before there was fear. And before you cared whether the person next to you was faster, stronger, or thinner …it’s about letting go of the baggage and living free!
Try to see your world with a fresh perspective without preconceived notions or negative thoughts. Try things for the first time, or try things again for the first time. Don’t let fear of the unknown or fear of past failures hold you back. Wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.
Start that exercise program! You know it will make you stronger, feel better, and give you more confidence in all aspects of your life. So do it. Start now. Be consistent. Don’t give up.
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